Darkest Corners volume 2

Game Master Harakani

"You two want to be the 'bad-guards'? Given your ... history ... you are the best candidates." Ophelias gaze jump between Diene and Mia as she speaks. "Do you think I am plausible too? I know some people have a problem with the trustworthy-ness of my kind!"

I think that'd only work if Dia and Diene convince 'em that they tinkered with you in some way Ophelia.

"Hmhm..." Ophelia hums and taps her fingers on the table. She didn't really like that thought too much. Doesn't *feel* right. Maybe? "Maybe I should be 'good guard' too then?" she suggests. "We could continue our investigation - that ought to at least pressure them. And we might find something."

"I think we could play on people assumptions about constructs, same you like to do most of the time, and have em just think you do whatever your big bad sergeant says."

"Not sure there, Isama. I think what most people have an issue with with artificial people is that most of their 'kind' are incapable of any form of morals. A machine without conscience will just as readily kill a serial murderer or the children of a kindergarten. It's no different to them, if their rules don't state there is one. I think that extreme neutrality rubs people in a weird way. But of course, Ophelia could be indifferent to a lot of things, even without tinkering. If she does not have a ruleset regarding drugs or narcotics, then as a regular construct, she would simply not care, as such, we could simply pretend that Ophelia's focus is on something differently, or that she is just our reference construct to cite applicable parts of the law, without any real power on her own, nor a personal motivation to enforce the law.", Daria ponders.

Ophelia shifts a bit, not entirely comfortable with the thought of breaking the law even if it was just for show. But then it is for a good cause! Also I'd like to know more about that ... stuff ...

Yeah, they're def'netly dream spiders. Don't know much about them though. Maybe we could find someone who would know more about 'em and get some clues that way. If they're getting the venom right from the city rather than importing it then that'd definetly help 'em make the stuff cheaper.

Prof:Guard for Shiver trade: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Know(local): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 7 + (3) = 20

"Hmh. There are plenty of places that could host a spider farm isn't there? Definitely plausible." Ophelia concludes. "It might prove a challange to find it though. Maybe we should investigate the lead from your previous encounter Isama? That may put a clock on the bad eggs and give our 'bad guards' some leverage."

Spider farms: most spiders eat each other, but are otherwise picky eaters. Spider farming tends to be difficult.

KN Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

"On second thought, with a lack of a proper ward for ourselves, the "muscle in on the business" idea seems a bit more awkward, maybe we should just play this one straight. Diene?"

"Yeah, let's go scare the rich punks instead." Diene cracks her knuckles a bit.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Hmm." Ophelia noted and tilted her head to the side. She wasn't quite sure how 'straight plays' and 'scare rich punks' were related, but she wasn't the one to interrupt a good plan. So she merely started cleaning up the table in anticipation of moving out.

OOC: Ready to wander off and try to 'scare the rich punks' :D

Damn 'straight', Ophelia!

Squad heads to Isama's captures.

The team head back to Spooky's HQ, ostensibly to finish some paperwork - there is always more paperwork in a Guard's life. In actuality they hope to get the address of the rich kids from the arrest book. It is likely the kids have been bailed by wealthy family members by now.

Senior Guard (retired) Johns looks up from reception as the team come in through the door. His eyes widen, but he remains sitting - not that the man has a choice.

Know(Local): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 7 + (1) = 22

"Hello Johns!" Ophelia greets the receptionist with a small nod. And since Johns were clearly referring to Diene and just Diene she did not feel compelled to 'get out of here!' just yet. She did however wonder about why it would be so urgent that Diene, and perhaps hypothetically herself and the rest of the squad, did 'get out of here!'. Curious. Spooky seemed troubled also earlier - we might have to look into that too!

Linguistics: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 10 + (2) = 18

Now since there may actually be some urgency, even if Johns just needed to rephrase himself, Ophelia hurried to take a look at the logs after the information they sought. Should the suspects remain there were other members of the squad that could probably extract information more efficiently from them then her so she focused on her own strengths. Hmm. Where are those logs?

Diene raises a finger, and has a bit of a swagger in her step, her mouth opens to say, "...."

Her mouth closes and she looks down and to the right. After a moment her attention snaps back up to Johns and she hops up a little onto the table to sit on it.

"Weeeell, I feel like saying some kind of rebellious thing against the insinuation I need to be afraid of anything. But I couldn't pick just one and there are a few things I'm afraid of. Do we happen to have an unkillable robot from the future sent to kill me about to come back into the room?"

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Johns looks at Diene, and continues in a low, urgent voice. "Word is Isama kicked over some sort of wasp hive. Spooky's at HQ doing damage control as we speak, but there's a bunch of senior guards looking around for something to catch us on. They've been muttering about you lot."

I was just doing my blighted job Isama mutters sourly. If I weren't supposed to arrest shivslingers then maybe someone should have passed me a memo saying that!

Now I've been put on Leave. But that don't mean I can't get some of my stuff from my locker right?

Trying to be distracting.

".. Yeah, totally what she said!"

Hmm hmm hmm. I am just a simple archivist taking a look in the archives. Don't mind me! Ophelia thought and attempted to project her thoughts outwards. Who knew? Maybe she was still stuck in that subjective dream; thing certainly felt weird around here ...

With her head somewhat bowed down Ophelia shuffled in the direction of the record room .

Disguise: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + (1) = 9

Figured that was the thing to roll. If she manages to reach it she'll probably go with the memorize option

"Well, we've been put on leave, and wanted to help Spooky with damage control. I think a formal apology from the responsible guards to the involved families would go a long way - need to know where to head for that, though.", Daria shrugs, leaning on the table with her arms next to where Diene sits. Oh, we can apologize if that'll help Spooky keep his head out of the noose. Even better if we manage to learn something while doing so-

Johns shakes his head and speaks quietly "I've seen angry parents before. Unless you picked up a Councillors kid, this isn't it. This is coming from inside the guard." he looks around again and leans into Mia "Look, if you need something, leave word at the Fire and Axe, I'll see what I can do in a couple of days. But now, leave."

"Wait, can they actually charge us for being here? I mean, if we're just standing here chatting with you?"

"C'mon, you've seen how this works. They can charge you lying peacefully asleep in your own bed, the question is if they can make it stick, and what they can do in the meantime."
He smiles grimly "Frankly, I don't want them to link me with you, at the moment."

"Perhaps surprisingly to you, but I'm not actually the best at procedure. Still not 100% on all this stuff." Diene manages to keep a straight face.

Daria's facial expression goes from cheerful to dark:"Look, if it's from inside the guard, you know "a couple days" won't work out well for us. Get us the names and addresses to the Fire and Axe after your shift ends, tonight, and we're all fine here, plus I owe you. Deal?", Mia stands tall(which is pretty damn small) behind his table, looking up into his eyes, trying to seem all serious, which may even seem comical to people more used to her easy-going mannerisms.
"Get us", not "bring us", I don't expect him to show up in person, just to organize the information brought to us there.

Yeah, we'll all owe ya. I'll just pick up my stuff from the locker and be on my way. That okay?

"Sure thing, Johns, take care-", Daria nods, looking up at Diene to see if she had anything to add or they were ready to leave-

"Anything here can wait." Johns informs Isama. "Hell, if I had my own building I wouldn't store anything in my locker here."

Fine, keep my stuff. This is a travesty. Isama turns to the rest of the special squad. Let's get out of this place.

"Right. Man, grumpy."

Once outside.

"So, it's all on Ophelia, ya?"

The squad - minus Ophelia - loiters at the baker's two doors up from Spooky's headquarters. The baker has a good view of the front doors... through which Ophelia has not emerged after a good ten minutes.